Hardee’s

The fast food burger joint, owned by CKE Restaurants Holdings Inc., is eyeing a site at 4340 Ninth St. W. in Bradenton, according to commercial building permits filed in Manatee County late last month. The chain operates more than 20 restaurants in the Sunshine State but this will be the company’s first move into the Sarasota-Manatee market. Hardee’s operates several stores in the Tampa region and one in Fort Myers.

The documents call for $900,000 worth of construction for a new, free-standing building southwest of DeSoto Square Mall near Cortez Plaza. Hardee’s and its sister restaurant Carl’s Jr. now have more than 3,800 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 44 states and 40 countries and U.S. territories.

Hardee’s is far from the only quick-service chain planning to build in Southwest Florida. Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Dairy Queen, Sonic, among others, have all filed permits in recent months to open new locations in the area.